College Football: Penn State's Massano persists through injuries

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2012, file photo, Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien leads his team onto the field at Beaver Stadium for an NCAA college football game against Navy in State College, Pa. Guided by a new coach instilling a fearless attitude, the team has won five straight headed into a high-stakes game Saturday night against unbeaten No. 9 Ohio State. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

STATE COLLEGE ó The scene, a blip in his teamís overall domination from beginning to end, was crucial proof for the senior defensive end, all the same.

Pete Massaro shoved his blocker back and back and nearly into the quarterbackís lap.

He did this again and again.

It had been too long.

Despite being credited with only one tackle, Massaro was active and effective throughout the stranglehold of Iowa last Saturday night.

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Now, he and his teammates talk as if that is only the beginning of a final surge.

Something Penn State followers thought might not ever come. ź

The highlight flash still registers two years later.

The Nittany Lions were struggling to find themselves in the early going at Alabama when Massaro entered the game and stunned the crowd momentarily.

The Penn State backup ripped through the Crimson Tide blockers to register an impressive sack.

The moment would not only signal Massaroís recovery but his better-than-advertised potential moving forward.

Penn State had found itself a never-stop pass-rusher and playmaker. He would finish fourth on the team with eight tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks.

The problem was 2010 was the only season he made it through on the field, beginning to end.

And even getting there wasnít easy. He ripped up his right knee before ever making it into a Penn State game, spending his first two seasons redshirting and rehabbing.

If only that one ACL tear was all he had to fight back from.

Though pegged as a key starter last season, the ACL in his left knee tore before he ever got going. He was forced to watch and work and wait through yet another fall.

ďIíve gone through a fair amount of trials, the teamís going through trials,Ē he said last week. ďIíve gone through some personal (setbacks), but thatís all in the past now, and Iím looking to move forward and trying to finish the season strong.Ē

A bit later, he was asked about his up-and-down career again.

ďItís been really tough,Ē Massaro said. ďBut everybody gets injured in this sport. Whether your time is when youíre 22 or when youíre 37 like Ray Lewis. Everybody gets hurt, itís just a matter of when it happens.

ďDealing with that stuff in years past gave me more patience and more ability to deal with adversity like that (now).Ē

Thatís why this senior season projected as such a reward.

Chronic soreness in his repaired knees would slow him, but he would play on.

What happened at Virginia in the second week was another matter. His shoulder popped out and was bruised severely.

How does a pass-rushing defensive end do his job with one good arm?

So he would watch and wait and rehab for a third time ó though now his Penn State days were numbered.

He missed three games while trying to regain strength in the injured shoulder. Even now he wears a harness under his uniform for protection.

But, finally, he appears close to his 2010 form.

ďItís really a testament to his character and the way heís persevered through adversity,Ē said senior center and good friend Matt Stankiewitch.

Tight end Gary Gilliam, who missed two seasons with his own severe knee injury, said he checks in on Massaro almost every day.

ďIt hurts me to see him going through what heís going through. To see him contribute and have a great game at Iowa is encouraging,Ē Gilliam said.

ďHeís very strong and his motor is insane. He just pushed through the pain.Ē

Meanwhile, all of the setbacks gave him a different view at practice and in games.

He gradually became another coach, in a sense, providing detailed tutoring for Penn Stateís young defensive ends such as Deion Barnes, Anthony Zettel and C.J. Olaniyan.

ďIím nothing but happy for them,Ē Massaro said. ďThose guys are going to be really outstanding players. Thereís no use in me getting down about my injuries. I just do the best I can to help those guys get better.Ē

He also emphasized that he never thought of quitting football through any of this.

ďNot for a second. That thought never really crossed my mind. I have a persistent personality, and once I start something I see it through to the end.Ē ź